Sept. 8, 2009 was not only the second Tuesday of the month my sweets. This day, according to media mogul and our best girlfriend, Tyra Banks, was National Real Hair Day!
Accordingly, Miss Tyra, for the season premiere of her talk show, 'The Tyra Banks Show,' revealed her very natural hair. Well, not natural, but real.
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Until now, Tyra has been the unapologetic poster child for the weave (she rocks a new look almost daily between her talk show and the other show she hosts, 'America's Next Top Model') -- the lace-front specifically. As the lead-up to the show, she promised:
"This season on 'The Tyra Show,' we're taking it to the next level and getting more real than ever before by encouraging women everywhere to own and rock what they've got and be proud!"

(Tyra after getting her hair styled -- in all of its weave-free glory!)
Tyra came out with her hair wet (and pretty long), and invited studio audience members on stage to touch and feel her hair and scalpto ensure that it was in fact, real.
Tyra then had her personal stylist Oscar do her hair before the studio audience after he cut three inches. Guest Perez Hilton said it was quite "coquettish."
Tyra Banks: "I feel like it's my responsibility to redefine true beauty, so I've shown myself with no makeup and now I'm showing my real hair -- and it's all because I want more women to be proud of who they are...inside and out."
Before the "reveal," our Afrobella asked whether this was a one-day thing or forever? (Answer: for the season, off and on.) And, frankly, do we care? Clutch mag pointedly asks what Tyra is trying to say by using the word "real" instead of "natural": "But seriously, we applaud Tyra for trying to bring earthiness and naturalness back to beauty, but we don't know about all that realness stuff . Why? Because realness is supposed to be inside a person, right? Not outside. And you can be as natural as the dirt on the ground and still not be real inside. And that's real talk." Well, Tyra used the word "real" because her hair is definitely chemically enhanced. Now, you can't expect Tyra to come out with no weave AND an Afro, right? Talk About It: The BV Community Sounds off on Tyra's Hair
Tyra, who said she will wear her natural hair as well has her usual wigs and weaves for the entire season of the show, stressed that weaves should always be an "option, like a hat you take off and have fun with."
The College Survival Guide
A Fridge
Regardless of whether you have a wonderful sized meal plan, your fridge may come in handy with leftovers or when you feel like stocking it with bottled drinks.
Computer
The convenience of a computer is essential when sending your kids off to college. Forget the hike to the computer lab across campus students need a computer in the comfort of their room. A printer comes in handy as well. Depending on whether your child plans to carry his laptop around campus, you might opt for a desk top since they're lighter on the pockets.
Snacks
You will surely survive with off of a meal plan but it doesn't hurt to stock up on snacks when you don't feel like leaving your dorm room. Bottled water, pop corn, cereal and Ramen noodles are all low budget snacks to stock up on. Just be weary of the freshman 15.
Things from home
Some college students suffer from homesickness the first year. It's best to surround yourself with things like photos of the family, pillows or even stuffed animals. Anything that reminds your child of home.
MP3 Player
With all the stress that comes from school and exams, sometimes it's nice to block out the chaos in your life and even your roommate with music. It's nearly impossible to find students walking to class who aren't jamming to tunes.
Budget
Students who enter college often come in at the ripening age of 18. A great time for credit cards. Parents beware, your child may end up ruining their credit at a young age
Alarm Clock
When you're in college you don't have the luxury of getting awaken by your parents. It's now your responsibility to get to class on time so alarm clocks are a must. But keep your roommate in mind. You shouldn't wake him up ever morning with a blow horn alarm.
Cleaning supplies
Now you don't necessarily need to bring in the rubber gloves, mop and gas mask but it doesn't hurt to bring along Clorox all purpose wipes for spills or dust. Vacuums and brooms come in handy too depending if you have a carpeted dorm.
Bedding
What most parents aren't aware of is that most college beds are twin sized but extra long and require special sheets. When shopping keep your eye open for sheets that clearly state 'extra long' or else your child may come up short.
Shower shoes
You really don't know what some people do in the shower these days. College showers are known to be creeping with germs so spare yourself the fungus and purchase flip flops for the shower. You'll thank us later!


Comments: (296)
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By: jjlogan456 on 9/09/2009 2:29PM
I saw the show. Tyra was open and intelligent. It was tyra "real hair" no matter what "clug mag " has to say. Tyra's trying to get women to apprciate beauy inwardly and outwardly, and stop being fearful of somw standard of beauty that even the models couldn't live up to. Now thats what you call real...
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By: Phil on 9/09/2009 2:30PM
Just another burr head!
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By: anna on 9/09/2009 2:32PM
Black folks and Afrioan-derived folks (some Hispanics, Caribbeans, etc., have varying textures of hair. Period. Some have thick, nappy hair, some have fine, long hair (mine), some have sparse hair...just like all other races (yes, including Asians)! Take a look at old Asian women in Chinatown and you'll see kinky, gray hair, yep. Sooo, the deception has come full circle and we have wonderful Real people such as Joy Behar of The View who's Italian....telling it straight about her hair and how it is "like Brillo..." when she doesn't straighten it. Sooo, Italians and other wanna be wasps have hair issues, too. It's just been easy to beat up on black women because we've allowed it. Look at some old '70's movies with some of the Black Beauties in cameo roles and REMEMBER how gorgeous we are with afro's and natural, ie., unprocessed hair. I wear a very mild relaxer because my hair is unmanageable otherwise. No added hair, a little color, yes, but SOME variety is the spice of life. I think it's good to know that black women have varying textures of hair and that many Jews and Italians have kinky hair, too. Some of these ethnic groups also use the same products as we do. My Caribbean hairdresser has as many Hispanics and Asian women customers as he does African-American ones. Relax! Not just your hair but your mind, put your feet up and laugh at it all. We're only here for a cosmic second. It's not that deep or that serious. LOLOLOL.
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By: joan on 9/09/2009 2:35PM
I am not African-American, not that color matters in complimenting Tyra on her hair, her beauty and simply being the very nice person that she is. Bottom line: Tyra is a beautiful lady. Who cares what her hair looks like--her beauty is not superficial and arises from within her.
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By: Dave Myers on 9/09/2009 5:03PM
If that was Tyra's REAL hair , you probably believed that Bill Clinton was a "Soul Brother"...
This is a prime example of a mis-informed/mis-educated BLACK Celebrity , perpetuating the SELF-HATE , endemic amoungst our BLACK WOMEN OF COLOR .
www.discussrace.com Peace .
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By: Pat Van Alders on 9/09/2009 2:40PM
Good Grief !!!!! Tyra's Natural Hair Looks Like CRAP !!!!! Her Natural Waves & Curls Look Like A Cheap Wig From K-MART !!!! Her Weaves & Extentions Were Much Prettier Than This Natural UGLY Look !!!!
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By: estella on 9/13/2009 9:39PM
Pat Van Alders, are you jealous? DO you want natural hair? Go buy some. It's always some crackpot on these posts just bad mouthing everyone for what ever reason. What may look nasty to you is pretty to others. Who cares what you think? The only thing that should matter to you is your ownself!!!!!!
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By: MITA on 9/12/2009 7:24PM
YOUR ANOTHER JEALOUS UGLY INDIVIDUAL
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By: N on 9/09/2009 2:42PM
I love my weaves. Its fast and it last long. I leave for work @5am every morning all I had to do is brush and go and it looks good. Very low maintenance. Thats whats important to me. Really dont care who thinks, I must not have much hair so I opt for a weave. Dont need to impress anyone but myself! Anyway usually its women who consume themselves with other people and their business. Quit worrying about the next chick put more effort into yourself! Whatever makes you happy Tyra and is not hurting someone do it!
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By: Eve on 9/09/2009 2:50PM
I like Tyra's hair. It looks like her hair to me. 14 years ago my hair was shorter than it is now and there were times when it was longer and it has nothing to do with the length of my hair now. My hair is pretty long and when I wash it, OH BOY! My hair gets extremely tangled to the point where it is difficult to comb and it draws up to a degree. I fully understand why she rarely wears her real hair in public, straight or kinky, hair can be unmanageable. Some of the things we do to a weave or a wig on a daily basis would leave us bald if we tried it with our natural hair. That goes for all women!
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